Pack Expo 2008 Delivers Innovation
- Published: December 04, 2008
ARLINGTON, VA | Pack Expo Intl. 2008, claimed the most comprehensive packaging tradeshow in the world's largest packaging market, attracted 44,115 potential buyers, down 3% from the 2006 show. The show featured 1,704 exhibitors occupying 1,085,579 sq ft.
For the first time, PROCESS Expo held its co-located event in the West Building of McCormick Pl., while CPP Expo was held in the Lakeside Ctr. Process Expo had 427 exhibitors and 201,180 net sq ft, while CPP Expo added 150 exhibitors and 31,870 net sq ft to the event.
This year’s Conference at Pack Expo focused on one of the leading trends in packaging: sustainability. Four keynote sessions and 55 Conference sessions attracted 1,300 attendees listening to leading retailers, consumer goods companies, and industry suppliers discuss their companies’ packaging approach.
Keynoters included: Amy Zettlemoyer-Lazar, packaging director, Sam’s Club and co-manager of Wal-Mart’s Sustainability Value Network; Robert Parvis, packaging manager, Sam’s Club; Betsy Cohen, VP of sustainability, Nestlé; Trevor Cusworth, director, Deloitte Consulting; and Glenn Wright, commercial VP, Dow Chemical Co.
“The Conference at Pack Expo added value for attendees by delivering information on trends and packaging issues that companies are wrestling with right now,” said Charles D. Yuska, president and CEO of PMMI. “The 1,300 participants chose more than 3,300 individual sessions. These sessions explored all facets of the packaging supply chain including machinery, materials, operations, and, of course, sustainability.”
Using their personalized My Pack Expo online business tool before and during the show, Pack Expo buyer attendees established 222,965 unique searches and created 120,000 bookmarks within their personal portals. These bookmarks identify specific exhibitors and conferences at Pack Expo sessions the attendee planned on learning more about or attending. In addition, 55,000 personalized maps were created to quickly identify the locations of exhibitors attendees wanted to visit on site.
“Technology has always played a role in helping attendees find solutions at Pack Expo, and this year was no exception; more people utilized their My Pack Expo tool than ever before,” noted Yuska.
In a first for Pack Expo Intl., Pack Expo TV headlines were delivered directly from the show floor. Each day of the show featured a newscast before the show opened, plus multiple interviews conducted throughout the day with more than 70 attendees, speakers, and exhibitors.
“Our goal for Pack Expo was to create value for both attendees and exhibitors by focusing on interviews with leading companies and suppliers who are driving change and innovation within our industry,” indicated Yuska.
